Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Nitrate and nitrite

Town of Oakland

Nitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, septic tanks and urban runoff. These contaminants can cause oxygen deprivation for infants and increase the risk of cancer. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Click here to read more about nitrate.

 

8

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

7

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.655 ppm220.500 ppm - 0.810 ppm
2019N/A00N/A
20200.290 ppm21ND - 0.580 ppm
20210.470 ppm220.400 ppm - 0.540 ppm
20220.450 ppm220.400 ppm - 0.500 ppm
2023N/A00N/A

ppm = parts per million

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.14 ppm

The EWG health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 10 ppm

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-05-10E180040760020.810 ppm
2018-05-10E180040760030.500 ppm
2020-06-02E20003712002ND
2020-06-23E200039220020.580 ppm
2021-06-08E210036190020.540 ppm
2021-06-08E210036190030.400 ppm
2022-06-09E22010777010.500 ppm
2022-06-09E22010777020.400 ppm